For The Love Of Port

And picked it. Lol

But seriously, a lot of people have thought I was nuts talking about this grape and its past importance so much. Looks like people have realized their ancestors were right in planting it back then. :)

However, Andy, do you know what is interesting and maintains the controversy around Sousão, is that David Guimaraes, from TFP, doesn't like it and says doesn't use it. Too rustic and incomplete. Maybe more agree with him. I see you don't, me neither.

oscarquevedo wrote:However, Andy, do you know what is interesting and maintains the controversy around Sousão, is that David Guimaraes, from TFP, doesn't like it and says doesn't use it. Too rustic and incomplete. Maybe more agree with him. I see you don't, me neither.

Lol yes I know he doesn't care for the grape. A shame as history has shown it to be a good grape. Difficult to grow, and best as a blending grape but Port is a blend of grapes anyways. We all know single grape ports lack the complexity needed to be great. Though I've had a really good dry wine with this grape.

Best used to add incredible color to the blend. Amazingly dark extract.

Why is it that David doesn't like Sousão?

When will tasting notes for all these new vintages be up?

I added my basic tasting impressions on the cask samples I've tried last week.

My full report will be out later this year.

This week, iconic Port producer Quinta do Noval announces the declaration of not only its 2011 classic Noval Vintage, but also the rare Nacional Vintage – last seen in 2003, almost ten years ago.

‘Immediately after the foot treading in the lagares that September, we knew we were in the presence of what could be a great vintage year’, explains Managing Director Christian Seely. ‘The 2011 wines - many made from our replanted sites, now well into maturity - showed excellent aromas, with the true deep rich colour we look for in a wine with magnificent ageing potential. Over the past eighteen months the wines in cask have lived up to that expectation, and we are delighted , and proud, to make this declaration.’

Ironically, 2011 was a difficult and challenging year in the vineyard. Above average rainfall through the previous winter had replenished the underground water reserves, which compensated for the erratic climate through spring and summer – heat waves, high nocturnal temperatures, strong drying winds and virtually no rain. Until the end of September, when the harvest began.

However, Noval decided to postpone picking for a week or so, to allow the vines to take advantage of this longed-for water, and the fruit to reach full maturity. It turned out to be the right decision, enabling this late harvest to take place in glorious, hot sunshine.

The resulting wines are already demonstrating their unique Noval pedigree. Of the Noval classic Vintage, Technical Director Antonio Agrellos says: ‘Very seductive – a wonderful balance of intense concentration and delicacy with complex aromas redolent of violets, and fruit with purity and freshness.’. Looking at the Noval Nacional, he comments: ‘A strong distinctive personality with a brooding presence, where the tannins are powerful yet refined and the fruit very intense and concentrated. A balance that explodes in the mouth....’

José Maria Calem, owner of Single Quinta Port and Douro producer, Quinta do Sogrado has declared 2011.

Quinta Seara d´Ordens has declared 2011 Vintage https://www.facebook.com/DerPortweinberater

Here is Christian Seely's blog post on 2011 VP's:

http://www.christianseely.com/2013/05/1 ... 9s+Blog%29

Derek,

I agreed with your assessement of what was best, but you had far more of a broad range to choose from compared to me. I've been reading everyone's early impressions and have seen a lot of similarities of favorites in fact.

For me, blind for the 2011's, is really the only way to taste them even though I was joking about this in the blind vs. sighted thread. I won't mention names but one blogger who has gained some credibility for Ports over the last few years has some serious label bias whenever he sees his favorite producer's Port, who just so happens to be a very good personal friend of his. I understand that can happen, but I've NEVER seen a single Port or Douro wine that he did not put in the very top tier of his ratings, from that one producer. That type of bias disqualifies a critic's view in my way of thinking. If they don't like a producer, would that negatively affect their ratings? I think that consumers should be wary of these types of questions.

You and I both have people in the trade that we have known for years and enjoy their company as much as their Ports. Does that warrant an extra 2 or 3 points when rating their bottlings? I think not.

I believe it is more difficult to go to a "walk around" trade or consumer tasting, (or even a seated one) where the producer is pouring their bottle of Port and discussing it with you and be equally discriminating as if you had the bottle in a blind lineup. I enjoy the trade tastings to get very quick and early impressions of what shows well at that moment in time, but without paying close attention to the evolution of that wine over a few days, the snapshot view is nothing more than that. Besides, when tasting samples this early on, even VPs which have received final approval for bottling by the IVDP change dramatically weeks or months down the road.

Roy Hersh wrote: I enjoy the trade tastings to get very quick and early impressions of what shows well at that moment in time, but without paying close attention to the evolution of that wine over a few days, the snapshot view is nothing more than that. Besides, when tasting samples this early on, even VPs which have received final approval for bottling by the IVDP change dramatically weeks or months down the road.

+1

I'm generally dumb-struck as to how some reviewers can definitively state scores and reviews on such young VP's at the moment. What I mean by that is they have posted their notes/scores and then they never come back later to do any follow up notes/scores. As mentioned, and as many of us know, when they are this young they can change dramatically. Even one day later or from different bottles can leave you wondering if you're drinking the same Port. One can get a general feel for them, but IMO not a definitive read on them at this stage. just my

I was surprised to learn from Miguel that Quinta do Mourao (S. Leonardo) will not be declaring a 2011 VP.

Roy Hersh wrote:I was surprised to learn from Miguel that Quinta do Mourao (S. Leonardo) will not be declaring a 2011 VP.

I recall some storms early on during the year causing some damage (or was that 2012?). Did they get hit, or are they just going to focus on other wines?

Roy Hersh wrote:I was surprised to learn from Miguel that Quinta do Mourao (S. Leonardo) will not be declaring a 2011 VP.

Make it all into Tawny? ( yum! )

David Spriggs wrote:

Roy Hersh wrote:I was surprised to learn from Miguel that Quinta do Mourao (S. Leonardo) will not be declaring a 2011 VP.

Make it all into Tawny? ( yum! )

Wouldn't that be a waste of great grapes?

Quinta do noval nacional, and normal vintage was declared vintage 2011, i am anxious to drinking this two wines, i am portuguese from oporto, and is a great experience, drinking wines the brand noval.
Someone know how many points james suckling and parker gave noval 2011?

I wonder why there was no 2011 Noval Silval produced. The '11 Nacional was annointed a perfect 100 point score by James Suckling.